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Xolos, Club America to play match at Petco Park

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By Tim Powers
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Special to MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres announced Saturday that Petco Park will host an exhibition soccer match featuring the Xolos de Tijuana on July 6 at 7:30 p.m. PT. The non-league match will pit the Xolos against Club America in the 2013 San Diego Clasico.

Several Padres players along with broadcaster Eduardo Ortega were on hand to make the announcement near home plate prior to Saturday's contest against San Francisco. Xolos players, including San Diego native Joe Corona, were also present as first baseman Yonder Alonso and Corona exchanged jerseys as a symbol of the partnership between the Padres and Xolos.

Corona, who attended Sweetwater High and San Diego State University, said he was excited not only to play in his hometown, but also about the partnership between the two clubs.

"To get to play in my hometown in front of my family and a lot of supporters and where I grew up is very special thing," Corona said. "Not only for us, but for the Xolos and the partnership that we have with the Padres. It will be a pleasure to play at Petco Park."

The match itself will not count in the standings for either club, but Corona made it clear that the competition will be high between the two rivals.

"It's going to be an exciting game," Corona said. "A lot of people know the rivalry we have with Club America. We won't be playing friendly; we're going to play hard."

This will be the third soccer event hosted by Petco Park since it opened in 2004. The ballpark also featured an international friendly between Mexico and Sweden in 2005 and an exhibition between Chivas USA and Chivas de Guadalajara in 2010.

Tim Powers is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.